Box construction



Oct. 1933. QTTINGER 1,928,792

BOX CONSTRUCTION Fil ed Jan. 11, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR finATTORNEY 06L 3, 1933. QTT|NGER 1,928.792

BOX CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 11, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR MATTORNEY Oct. 3, 1933. N. OTTINGER BOX CONSTRUCTION Fild Jan. 11, 1932 4Sheets-Sheet 3.

INVENTOIIQL Jlfijkan flfh'njer BY M ATTORNEY Oct. 3. 1933. N. O'ITINGER-7 BOX CONSTRUCTION Filed Jam 11, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORv 4ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 3, 1933 r PATENT" OFFICE Box CONSTRUCTION INathan Ottinger, New York, N. Y. Application January 11, 1932.' SerlalNo. 585,829

6 Claims.

This invention relates to box constructions,-

and has for its general object and purpose to provide a box of the typegenerally used by retail merchants, wholesalers or manufacturers 5 forthe packaging of various commodities, which is provided with an easilyand quickly manipulable means for securely closing the box, the boXconstruction and the improved closure means entirely eliminating the useof adhesives, staples,

parts thereof.

More particularly, it is an important feature of the invention toprovide a box constructed of cardboard or similar material of requisiteweight one open end thereof with an exterior fold which extends upon atleast three angular related walls of the box body to provide an inwardlyopening pocket across one of said walls, and a closure means for saidopen end of the boxbody also composed of cardboard, and having alockingor holding part foldable into said pocket and closely confined betweenthe body wall of the box and said pocket-forming fold.

It is also an additional object of the invention to provide a boxconstruction of this character which may be very inexpensively producedfrom a single die stamped blank with a minimum waste of material. I

An additional object of the invention is, to provide one of the foldableparts of the box blank which constitutes the rear wall of the box bodywith relatively foldable wings or extensions which are adapted to extendupon the outer surfaces of opposite side walls of the box, and have oneof their edges inserted upwardly between said wall and the exteriorpocket-forming fold extending along the upper edge of said side wall.

Also another object of the invention is to provide improved means forsecurely locking the rear ends of the opposite side walls of the boxwith the bottom and rear wall thereof.

A further general object of the invention is to provide a one-piecefoldable cardboard box of such construction that a comparatively largenumber of the box blanks may be compactly assembled and bound togetherin a package of relatively small dimensions, said blank, when foldedwith the parts in proper interlocked relation and the box cover closed,producing a' very rigid and substantial box structure, which is veryneat in appearance and which may be used as a container for commoditiesof considerable weight, without liability of the separation or collapseof the box contents.

or other fastening or securing means for the,

and wall thickness, having a body provided at With the other and otherobjects in view, the invention consists in the improved boxconstruction, and the form, .construction and relative arrangement ofits several parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described,illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings and subsequently incorporated inthe subjoined claims.

' In the drawings wherein I have illustrated several simple andpractical embodiments of the invention, and in which similar referencecharacters designate corresponding parts throughout the severalviews,--- 1 Figure 1 is a perspective view of the cardboard ,boxembodying the essential features of my present invention in onepractical form thereof, and in which a separate closure means isprovided for each end 'of the box body;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on the line2-2 of Fig. 1, an intermediate portion of the box bodybeing broken away;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on theline 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the die stamped cardboardblank from which thebox is formed; 90

Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a modi fled embodiment of myinvention;

Fig. 6 is a similar view, the cover of the box being 'shown in openposition;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the blank from which the box shown in Figs. 5and 6 is produced;

Fig. 8 is a perspective: view similar to Fig. 5 showing another form ofthe box construction.

Fig. 9 is a plan'view of the blank of the box shown in Fig. 8;

Figs 10 and 11 are perspective views of another alternative constructionshowing the box with the cover in closed and open positionsrespectively;

Fig. 12 is a plan view of the blank 0! the latter form of box;

Figs. 13 and 14 are perspective views similar to Figs. 10 and 11illustrating still another embodiment of the invention; Y

Fig. 15 is a planview of the blank of the box shown in Fig. 14;

Figs.'16 and 17 are perspective views similar to Figs. 13 and 14 of afurther alternative form of the invention, and b 1 Fig. 1 8 is a planview of the blank '01 the box shown in Fig. 17.

Referring in detail to the drawings, and for the present moreparticularly to Figs. 1- to 4 thereohthe box as therein illustrated, mayof course be. produced in any suitable dimensions for a desiredpredetermined capacity. The box, together with the closure meanstherefor, is preferably produced from a one-piece die stamped blank ofpaperboard of suitable weight and thickness. As shown in Fig. 4 of thedrawings, the blank includes sections 5 and 6 which form the oppositefront and back walls of the box, an

*intermediate section 7 forming one of the side walls and the sections 8and 9 adapted to overlap upon each other to form the other side wall ofthe box body. At opposite ends of the back wall 5, the integralextensions 10 and 11 respectively are provided and form closures for theends of the box body. Opposite side edges of these extensions 10 and 11are provided with .the integral tapering wings 12 and 13 respectively,and between these wings each extension 10 and 11 has a flap 14, 15respectively. At opposite ends of the sections 6, 7 and 8, therelatively foldable parts 16 and 17 respectively are formed.

The several parts above described are adapted to be folded relative toeach other along scores of suitable depth formed in one side of theblank, as indicated by the broken lines 18. Also the flaps 14 and 15 areeach foldable along the broken lines 19, so that the free ends of saidflaps constitute locking tabs 20 and 21 to hold the respective closuresections 10 and 11 intightly closed position, as will be presentlyexplained.

In setting up the box blank, it is only necessary to first bend or foldthe part 16 upon the outer sides of the sections 6, 7 and 8. Thesesections and the section 9 are then folded relative to the section 6 oralong the score lines 18 to provide a rectangular structure closed onall sides. The section 9 folds on the outer side of the section 8, theends of the section Q'being flexed and positioned between the externalfolds 16 at one of their ends, and the section 8. Thus the parts 5, 6,TI, 8 and 9 are retained in their proper angular relation to each other.I

The wings 12 are now folded inwardly and the section 10 folded relativeto the section 5 over one open end of the box body, said wings 12entering said open end and fitting closely against the inner surfaces ofthe side wall sections-7 and 8 respectively. It will of course beevident that the fold 16 which extends across the outer sides of the boxwalls 6, 7 and 9 is free or unattached along its lower edges. The partsof this fold extending across the side wall sections '7 and9 thus holdsthe intermediate section of the fold extending across the wall 6 inclose relation to the latter 'wall, without the use of adhesives, metalfasteners or tabs or extensions inserted through slots in the box walls.

In order to securely close the end .of the box, the locking flap 20 isfolded inwardly and upwardly against the outer face of the front wall 6of the box and into the pocket formed between said wall and the fold 16on the end thereof, Thus the inner part of the extension 14 or 15 isretained in closely superimposed relation over the fold 16 or 1'7, andthe enclosures 10 and 11 are thus closely confined and held in positionover the open ends of the box body, the wings 12 exerting a resilientoutward bearing pressure against the side walls of the box body. Thiscompletes the secure and efi'ective closure of the ends of the box,preventing the entrance of dust, dirt or water to the interior thereofor the possible acci dental release of any of the contents of the box.

It will be evident from the above description,

that in view of the extension of the pocket-forming folds across thethree walls of the box body interlocking tabs and slots, metalfasteners, ad-

hesives or any other supplementary or auxiliary securing means of anykind for the several parts,

of the box blank. Also, it will be further apparent that with theprovision of such closure means for the open ends of the box, thecomplete and secure closure of the box ends may be very rapidly effectedby exceedingly simple manipulations of the parts of the closure.

In Figs. 5, 6 and 7, I illustrate a somewhat different form of box inwhich the blank includes a rectangular section 22 forming the bottom ofthe box having the relatively foldable parts 23 and 24 extending atright angles to each other along two of its edges and the foldable part25 extending along another edge thereof to form the back wall of the boxbody. Along the other edge of the section 22, a comparatively longextension is integrally connected comprising the three relativelyfoldable parts 26, 27 and 28 respectively. ht their outer edges theseparts are provided with a continuous fold 29 adapted to be folded uponthe outer sides thereof and corresponding to the folds 16 or 17 of theconstruction first described. The free ends of the sections 26 and 28have the relatively foldable triangular shaped flaps 30 and 31respectively.

With the rear wall section 25, the cover section 32 of the box isintegrally connected and is provided at opposite side edges with thefoldable wings 33 and between these wings with the extension 34 havingthe foldable locking flap 35. At opposite ends of the rear wall section25, the relatively foldable triangular shaped wings 36 are integrallyconnected therewith, the material being slitted as at 3'7 at thejuncture of the wings 36 with section 25.

In setting up the box blank above described, the parts 23, 24, 25 and 26are first bent upwardly along the score lines to positions in rightangular relation to the box bottom 22, it being understood of coursethat the part '29 has first been outwardly folded on the parts 26, 27,28. Parts '27 and 28 are then folded relative to each other and the part26 to extend across the outer sides of the parts 23 and 24 and above thelatter. The wings 30 and 31 are then bent to extend inwardly upon theinner side of the rear section 25 and the wings 36 are then sufllcientlyflexed to permit the upper end portions thereof to be inserted betweenthe fold 29 and theopposite side wall sections 26 and 28,-thus retainingthe rear wall section 25 in its erect position. The box may now besecurely closed in a similar manner to the construction previouslyexplained by folding the cover 32 downwardly over the open top of thebox body and. then inserting the locking flap upwardly into the loweropen side of the pocket formed between the fold 29 and the front wall2'7 01' the box.

The construction shown in Figs. 8 and 9 is similar to that lastdescribed, except that the bottom section of the box blank is providedon its opposite side edges with the relatively foldable parts 23' andthe elongated part of the box blank comprising the wall sections 26',27', and 28 extends across the front edge of the box bottom, the frontwall section 27 being integrally connected therewith. These 'sections26, 27', 28' are of course also provided with the outwardly foldedpocketforming part 29', and otherwise the blank is of the sameconstruction as last described and the parts thereof arerelativelyfolded in a similar manner and interlocked with each other toprovide the box or receptacle.

In Figs. 10, 11 and 12, I show another alternative construction in whichthe blank is formed to provide an additional relatively foldable section28a connected with the free end of the section 28', which is ofsufiicient length to extend across the entire width of the box along theinner surface of the rear wall thereof. In this construction, the otherside wall section 26 has a rela-' tively short foldable extension 300..The outwardly foldable pocket-forming part 29a extends continuouslyalong the sections 26', 27, 28, 28a and a and the fold part 29a at thefreeend of the section 28a is adapted to be received within the foldedpart 29a carried by the section 30a extending inwardly from the otherside wall of the box. Thus, when the cover is in closed position,

it will be evident that in this construction, the sections 2811. and 25of the box blank provide a reinforced rear wall of double thickness. Inthis construction, the locking wings at the ends of the rear wallpreviously referred to may be omitted, since the section 30a is ofsufficient length to produce adequate frictional resistance between thenested fold parts 29a of the box blank to resist internal pressurestending to force the opposite side walls outwardly and cause thecollapse of 3118 box.

Figs. 13, 14 and 15 illustrate still another construction in which thefront and opposite side wall sections of the box blank 40, 41 and 42respectively are-not directly connected with each other and areindependently foldable withrespect to the corresponding edges of thebottom wall sec tion of the box. The front section 40 is provided at itsopposite ends with relatively foldable triangular shaped extensions 43,said extensions and the wall 40 having the continuous pocket-formingfold 44. The side walls 41 and 42 at their rear ends are provided withsimilar relatively foldablev triangular extensions 45, 46 respectively,said extensions and the box walls. having the pocketforming folds 48 and49. At the other or front ends of the side wall sections 41, 42, theinwardly foldable locking tabs 50 and 51 respectively are provided. Therear wall and cover section of the box blank in this construction aresubstantially the same as that illustrated in Fig. 7 of the drawings.

In setting up the parts of the box blank as last described, the sidewall sections 41, 42are first raised to erect positions relative, to thebottom section of the box. The front wall 40 with the extensions 43 andfold 44 first folded relative to said wall is then raised to an uprightposition and the pocket-forming folds 48 and 49 on the forward endportions of walls 41, 42 are received within the ends of the pocketforming fold 44 on the extensions 43. The front end edges of walls 41,42 are obliquely cut as indicated at 41', 42, beyond the folds 48, 49 tofacilitate this nesting of the latter folds within the ends of the fold44. The end wings on the rear wall section of the box body are thenflexed and inserted upwardly into the pockets formed by folds 48, 49 onthe opposite side walls of the box in the same manner as described inconnection with the construction shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7. Thisconstruction also .provides a very strong and durable box or containerof this type.

In Figs. 16, 17 and 18, there is illustrated another alternativeconstruction in which the front wall section of the box blank isprovided with the relatively foldable end extensions and the outwardlyfolded pocket-forming part similar to that shown in Fig. 15, except thatsaid extensions are of rectangular form instead (f triangular. In thiscase, the box bottom is provided as in the construction shown in Figs. 9and 12 with the relatively narrow upwardly foldable sections along itsside edges, and the side wall sections 53, 54 of the'box blank areformed as integral extensions of the rear wall section 55 thereof. Eachof these side walls at its free end is provided with a part ofsubstantially L-shaped form, as indicated at 56, 57 respectively, whichis foldable relative to the side wall along the score line 58, aV-shaped notch 59 being cut in the material at the upper end of thisscore line.

In setting up the parts of this box blank, after the foldable sideportions connected with the bottom section have been raised to erectpositions, the front wall and end sections thereof with itspocket-forming fold on the outer side thereof are then arranged relativeto the box bottom with the said end sections extending inwardly upon theouter sides of the vertically disposed parts connected with the bottomof the box, as clearly seen in Fig. 17 of the drawings. The rear wall 55is now moved to an upright position and side walls 53, 54 are foldedinwardly, the extensions 57 of these side walls being folded relativethereto upon the outer side of the front wall of the box and thehorizontal parts thereof flexed to permit of their insertion upwardlyinto the pocket formed by the exteriorfold along the upper edge of thisfront wall.

When this box is closed, the locking flap on the box cover is foldedupwardly within the pocketforming fold on the front wall of the box, andunder the horizontal parts of the extensions 57 on the side wallsthereof. Thus these side walls are securely locked in proper relation tothe front wall of the box and against downward movement relative theretoat their forward ends, whereby production basis at very small cost.Also, in certain ofthe illustrated constructions, there is very littlewaste of material and the several parts or sections of the box blank maybe very easily and quickly folded or set up in their proper relativepositions. By the particular means which I provide for securing thecover of the box in closed position, said cover is securely held withoutsupplementary fastening means of any kind and against accidentalopening, and operates in conjunction with the body walls of the box, toprovide a very rigid structure offering the necessaryresistance tointernal or external pressures tending to cause collapse of the boxstructure.

While I have herein shown and described several practical examplesof mypresent improvements, it is nevertheless to be understood that theessential features thereof might also be incorporated in various otheralternative structural forms, and I accordingly reserve the privilege ofresorting to all such legitimate changes in the form, construction andrelative arrangement of the various parts as may be fairly embodiedwithin the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim;

1. A paper board box comprising a polygonal shaped body, at least threeangularly related walls of said body at an open end thereof having acontinuous outwardly turned fold to provide a pocket extending acrossone of said walls, the free edgeof the fold at the open sideof saidpocket being normally retained in closely contiguous relation to theface of said wall by the portions of the fold which extend upon theother box walls, and an integrally formed closure for the open end ofthe box directly connected to another of the box walls independently ofsaid fold and having a flap to overlie the pocket-forming section ofsaid fold and provided with a relatively a continuous outwardly turnedfold at an open end a of the box providing a pocket extending acrosseach of said walls, another body wall section having parts at itsopposite ends foldable against the outer sides of two of the first namedsections, and insertable into the pockets thereon, and a cover sectionfor the box having a flap to overlie the pocket on the other of saidfirst named wall sections and provided with a relatively foldable tabinsertable into said pocket to releasably secure the cover section inclosed position.

3. A paper board box comprising a single blank cut to provide relativelyfoldable sections forming a bottom, front, rear and side walls for thebox body, and a cover section integral with said rear wall, said frontand side walls having a continuous outwardly turned fold providing apocket extending across each of said walls at the open end of the boxbody, said rear wall having parts at its opposite ends foldable againstthe outer sides of the sidewalls and insertable into the pocketsthereon, and the cover section of the box having a flap-to overlie thepocket on the front wall of the box and provided with a relativelyfoldable. tab insertable into the pocket thereon to releasably securethe cover section in closed position.

4. A paper board box comprising a single blank cut to provide a bottom,front, rear and side walls for the box body, said side and front wallsbeing integrally connected and the side walls having relatively foldableparts at their free ends adapted to extend inwardly upon the rear wallof the box, said front and side walls and the extensions of the latterhaving a continuous outwardly turned fold to provide pockets extendingacross said front and side walls at the open end of the box body, saidblank also including a cover section integrally connected with the .rearwall section and foldable relative thereto, parts integral with the endsof the rear wall section, said parts along one of their edges beingpartially separated from the rear wall to permit flexing of said partsand the insertion of the same into the pockets on the side walls of thebox body, said cover section having a flap to overlie the pocket on thefront wall of the box and provided with a relatively foldable tabinsertable into said pocket to releasably secure the cover section inclosed position.

5. A paper board box comprising a blank having relatively foldablesections to provide a box body including a bottom, front, rear andopposite side walls, said front wall having an external fold extendingalong its upper edge to form a downwardly opening pocket, each of theside walls having an inwardly foldable part at its forward end extendingupon the outer side of the front wall and into said pocket, and a coverfor the box having a flap along one edge to overlie the wall of saidpocket and provided with a relatively flexing tab also adapted to beinserted upwardly into said pocket to releasably retain the cover inclosed position.

6. A paper board box comprising a blank having relatively foldablesections to provide a box body including a bottom, front, rear andopposite side walls, said front wall having an external fold extendingalong its upper edge to form a downwardly opening pocket, each of theside walls having an inwardly foldable part at its forward end extendingupon the outer side of the front wall, and provided with a horizontallyextending portion disposed within one end of said pocket, and a coverfor the box having a flap along one edge thereof to overlie the wall ofsaid pocket and provided with a relatively flexing tab adapted to beinserted upwardly into said pocket and between the front wall of the boxand said horizontal portions of the parts connected with the side walls,to thereby retain said side walls in their erect positions andreleasably secure the cover in its closed position.

' NATHAN OTTINGER.

